Thomas w



gnite?! grains-garnet grim THOMAS FOX, 0F LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

Letter: Patent 1V0. 63,496, dated Aprilvil, 1867.

IHPRDVED APPARATUS Pcs 'BXPELLING WATER rsou THE Hones or'vssssgts.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:-

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. FOX, of the city and county of New London, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful improvement in my Device'or Apparatus for Enpelling Water from Sailing or Steam Vessels, patented June 12, 1866; end I do hereby declare that the following is a. full, clear, and onset description of the construction, character, nd operation of the some, reference beinghedto the accompanying drawings, which make part of this'specificction, in which-- Figure 1 is a section of the whole apparatus cut vertically through the centre, showing the relative positions of the ports.

Figure 2 is a. perspective view of the valve-box and valve with its packing and seat.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cylindrical vncuum-producer. I Figure 4 is a. perspective view of the rod or shaft 'by' which the cylindrical vacuum-producer is raised and lowered. v

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a cap, which maybe screwed on to protect the valve while the vessel is at rest.

My improvement on my invention patented June 12, 1866, consists in elongating the main or outside rylinder, and-fitting to its side a collar or horizontal tube; and in fitting a. valve into this horizontal tube, to

open toward the main cylinder, so that the pressure of water attempting to enter the vessel will close the valve, while the pressure of the water-passing out hf the vessel will open the valve; and by prolonging. the cylindrical vacuum-producer, so that a'portion of it may be a perfect cylinder, fitted to close the aperture in the side of the main cylinder securely against leaking, even if the valve should be forced open or removed; and in attaching a suitable rod or shaft to the upper end of thevacuum-producer, by which it maybe elev'oted or depressed at pleasure. V I v I make all of the parts of bronze, or any other suitable material that is well celculetad to resist the action of the water and other exposure. I cast the lower portion A A of the main or outside. cylinder in one piece, with its-flange a a, and cut or form at its upper end a male screw, as shown at b 11, substantially as described in my before-mentioned patent; and I cast the upper portion B of this main cylinder of equal internal calibre with the lower part, attach the parts together by means of the screw, as represented at b b, and in the upper part of its side I cast or make an orifice, as shown at 0. Over and enclosing this orifice G I fit or cast in one piece with the main cylinder a collar or horizontal tube, with a female screw in the outer end, as represented in section ate a; and at the upper end of the main cylinder I fit a stuffing or pecking-box, as shown at dpthroughwwhich the rod or shaft E works, to raise or lower ihe cylindrical vacuum-producer, all as represented in fig. I

make the valve-box andseat Gr, with its male screws e and of, substantially in the form shown in fig.;2, and in section in fig. 1, with the valve or clapper made of a. plute of metal, as shown at H, to which I secure the pecking y by means of escrow, as shown at 71, figs. 1 and 2, which clapper I attach to the hex G by means of a hinge or joint, as shown at z, figs. 1 and 2; or, the valve may be of any other suitable form and attachment; and the vnlvc-box should be screwed into its place with the hinge exactly at the top, as shown in fig. 1,530 that its weight will tend to keep it closed. I make the cylindrical vacuum-producer eubstsntiully of the shape or form shown in fig. 3, and indicated in section in fig. 1 that is, I maize the lower part semi-cylindrical for sucna length that,

when its real; projection it rests on the flange a, as shown in section in fig. 1, its lower end will pass down into the water a distuncoabout equal to its diameter; and near the upper end I make a hole or aperture, es shown at L, which must exactly correspond to the aperture or orifice C in the resin cylinder, es indiceted in section in fig. 1, while the middle is a. complete cylinder, as shown at I, fig. 3; and at the top I fit o-crosshor, as shown at Z, figs. land 3, into which the rod or-shaft E is to be crewed or otherwise nttechod, to raise or lower the cumin-producer, as indicated in figl. I make the rod or shaft E, figs. .i and 1, of suitable strength to raise end'lower' the vacuum-producer I K, fig.,3, and screw its loWl eridinto the crossbar i, as shown in fig. 1, having it pass water-tight through the stu'fiiug'-hox d; and I make it long enough to reach to the most convenient pie-he f w ki it; and I fit upon it a sliding collar, to be tightened with a binding screw; as shown at m, figs. 1 vand 4, to secureit in its place when the vacuum-producer is drawn up. If desired, this shaft E may pass through the deck, as indicated at M, fig. 4, or through more than one deck; and the binding screw may be worked by t.

rod passing alon'g the side of. the rod E, and using a rack and pinion' or bell-crank, so that'it may be operated at any pointfrom the hold or lower cabin to the upper deck, so that no time need he lost. Imake thccap, fig. 5, to screw on to the valve-box at e, &c., when the apparatns'is not in use.

Havingconstructed the several parts as described, I cu t a suitable hole in the bottom K of the vessel; and insert the lower portion A A of the main cylinder from the under side, and force "it up until the flange a a touches the bottom plank, (taking'care to insert it so that the convex-side of the vacuum-producer shallhe toward the how.) I then put on the flange n h on the inside of the vessel, put in a suitable number of screw-bolts, as n o, and turn on the nuts, as pp, and screw the cap, fig, 5, on to the thread 6 I), when the whole. will be safely protected until wa'nted for use, and will be ready to receive the movable parts.

To fit it for use I unscrew the cap, fig. 5, insert the vacuum-producer; fig. 3, put-on the upper portion B of the main cylinder, with the horizontal tu'beD D attached. and the valveboxG and valve H in their properpositions, and then insert the' rod E, fig. 4." I then draw up'the shaft or rod E till the lower end K of the vacuum-producer is on a level with the flange,a.a, anddrop the collar m down'to the stufiing-box d, (or toany one of the decks, or any other proper -supp0rt,) :md turn in the binding screw, when the complete cylindrical part I will cover and entirely close the orifice C in the main cylinder, so that no water can pass either way. Should the vessel, make water by leaking or shipping; a seat when the vessel is running ahead, I'relcase the binding screw m, and, by the rod E, forcc or let down the vacuum-producer I K to the position represented in section in fig. 1, which will cause the orifice L to correspond with G, when the forward motion of the vessel'will force the convex surface (opposite through the water, and thereby form a vacuum onthe concave side, (ortoward the stern,) when the water within the, vessel will force opcn'the valve H, as represented in fig. 2, and the water will pass out, inthe direction indicated by the darts, withthe rapidity dnc'to the size of the orifice and the velocity of the vessel through the water, as set forthiin my before-mentioned patent. Should the vessel lose its headway by accident or design the vacuum would cease, and the tendency of the water would be to force itself into the vessel; but thatforce would instantly close the valve H, as represented .in section in fig. 1, and revent the entering of any water into' the vessel; and, when desired, the vacuum-producer can be raised by the rod E, so that the cylinder I will close the aperture 0, when no water can enter the vessel.

The principal advantages of my present improvements over those which I patented June 12, 1866, consist in the great addition, safety, and convenience of the use of the valve; and in the use of the rod E, by which I raise or lower the vacuum-producer; and in so constructing the vacuum-producer that, when it is drawn up, the part I will perfectly close or cover the orifice C in the main cylinder.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the valve with the cylindrical vacuum-producer, when they are constructed, arranged, and fitted for use substantially as herein described and set forth.

2. I claim the combination of the cylindrical vacuum-producer with the elongated main cylinder, when they are so constructed and fitted to each other that, when the part Kof the cylindrical vacuum-producer is raised out of the water, the part I will close the'aperture C in the main cylinder, substantially as herein describedand set forth.

3. I claim the combination of the cylindrical vacuum-producer with the rodiE and its cellar and bindingscrew m, when they are so arranged and connected tliat'the cylindrical vacuum-producer may he raised'or lowered by the rod E, and may be secured at any desired elevation by the collar and binding screw, (or any other analogous:

device,) substantially as herein described and set forth.

. THOS. W. FOX. Witnesses:

E. W. BALDWIN, R. FITZGERALD. 

